Frank Lampard has praised Juan Mata for showing the right
character to fight for his place at Chelsea.
Mata has been Chelsea's player of the season for two
years in a row since his arrival from Valencia in 2011, but has not begun the
new campaign as a regular starter and has been told to adapt his game by
manager Jose Mourinho.
The Spaniard has responded well to the challenge and made
a crucial contribution off the substitutes' bench against Tottenham Hotspur on
Saturday as he helped Chelsea battle back to earn a 1-1 draw in the Premier
League.
"If you
are not playing, and we have all been there, you have to stay and train well,
keep the right attitude. Juan has done that."
"He played well, linked the play, put in the ball
for the goal," said team-mate Lampard.
"He has been a vital player ever since he came to
the cub.
"His attitude has been first class. Every player
understands there is a lot of competition, especially in midfield.
"If you are not playing, and we have all been there,
you have to stay and train well, keep the right attitude. Juan has done that."
While Chelsea dominated the second half at White Hart
Lane until Fernando Torres' late sending-off, Lampard was impressed by Spurs in
the opening 45 minutes.
Andre Villas-Boas' men have made a strong start to the
season after spending heavily in the summer and Lampard believes they must be
considered title contenders, although he says the key will be how they deal
with the rising pressure of expectation.
"They're a very good team," said Lampard in the
Daily Mail. "They are going to be looking at winning the league.
"That's what you have to do when you spend that
money. We've lived for the last eight years with that pressure, year in year
out, and that's what Tottenham have to deal with if they want to win the
league.
"You have to get a level of consistency and it's not
easy. It's a difficult league."
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